High-stakes talks on AI, trade get under way as Trump welcomes Xi to the White House

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump hailed his “great friendship” with Xi Jinping as he welcomed the Chinese leader to the White House for talks aimed at keeping ties between the world’s largest economies on track.

The summit got underway on the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday (Sep 24), with Trump, Xi and their spouses shaking hands and posing for an official photo. The arrival ceremony is slated to include a full military review, gift exchange and flyover. Underneath that pageantry, however, long-standing feuds linger between the superpower rivals on trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.

“Working together, President Xi and I have made tremendous strides on the issues facing our two countries,” Trump said during remarks in the Grand Foyer of the executive mansion, citing what he said were advances to expand access to the Chinese market for US farmers and ranchers under the newly created Board of Trade.

The US president said the two leaders would also discuss issued related to security, technology and AI. “If we focus on our common interests, I’m confident there is much we can achieve throughout history,” he said. 

In his remarks, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was visiting the US to carry on friendship, expand cooperation and promote the wellbeing of the peoples of both countries.

“China, US cooperation may not solve every problem in the world, but without our cooperation, it would be hard to solve many of the world’s problems,” Xi said.

The visit is coming at a precarious time for Trump, who is facing a cost of living crisis worsened by his decision to wage war on Iran. High prices have fuelled voter discontent, putting his fellow Republicans in danger of losing control of Congress in the November midterm elections. 

Xi arrives in the US powering toward a precedent-defying fourth term in office next year and with China’s chokehold on rare earths giving Beijing enduring leverage. But the Chinese leader is also grappling with sluggish economic growth and rising youth unemployment.

His first state visit to America in 11 years follows Trump’s trip to Beijing in May, where the flattery-focused president was welcomed by Vice-President Han Zheng and hundreds of flag-waving children.

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By contrast, Trump personally greeted Xi and his wife at Joint Base Andrews – a rare honor only extended to popes at that airport over the past six decades. The US president posted on social media that his Chinese counterpart looked “strong, vibrant, and fit.”

On Thursday evening, the US president will throw the second state dinner of his term for Xi, with yellow squash veloute and sesame-crusted sea bass on the menu and a guest list including American tech titans such as OpenAI’s Sam Altman.

The leaders’ visit got off to a positive start, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announcing within minutes of Xi’s arrival that the US and China agreed to extend their trade truce by around two months to Jan 10, 2027.

Struck in 2025, that deal has kept down tariffs after Trump set off a trade war with China during the first months of his second term. 

Some members of Trump’s own party have criticised the manner in which he is hosting Xi, including Senator Roger Wicker, typically a reliable ally of the president who chairs the chamber’s Armed Services Committee.

“I would have suggested the president not invite Xi Jinping to Washington for such a lavish welcome,” Wicker said this week. “His guest is a brutal, unelected and oppressive dictator who seeks to dominate his neighbours and whose massive military arsenal is aimed directly at the United States of America.”

While the two leaders projected warmth, tensions have also mounted behind the scenes. Shortly before Xi landed, Bloomberg News reported the Chinese government has taken possession of F-35 stealth aircraft parts that were diverted to Hong Kong while being sent to the US from Australia.

Trump has acknowledged the two countries’ rivalry even as he seeks to court Xi. Trump has said he favours unabated AI development in order for the US to outpace China, despite industry leaders’ concerns the technology could pose an existential threat to humanity. The US president rejected such warnings as a “hoax”.

It’s unclear how deeply the two leaders plan to delve into the trickier parts of the US-China relationship. Trump told reporters on Wednesday they would discuss the war in Iran “and many other subjects, but it’s all coming along well.” BLOOMBERG, REUTERS